Are there any benefits to millennium bypass except cost?

[midwayfair]

Now that there are multiple sources for 3PDT switches at $5 or less ($3 at Tayda), I'm trying to determine if there's any benefit left to millennium bypass. It seems like the transistor and the diodes are going to run you almost the cost difference, plus space on the PCB.

[Earthscum]

Cool factor... (in a casual tone) "Yeah, it uses R.G. Keen's Millenium bypassing circuit"  

Actually, say you want to do some cool LED tricks. Then you use Mr. Mill in each LED circuit, and you can control multiples from that one footswitch, and get really crazy using bi-color LED's and such. Basically what I'm saying is that it's uses are only limited by your imagination. Yes, very useful circuit, indeed!

ETA: IMHO, I think the Millenium bypass circuits should be the second thing a noob should learn after he gets done with his (or her) Fuzz Factory first build. If you understand how the Mill works, you understand how to make more than just switches for LED's. The JFET mill is the basis for Solid State switching! And, if you apply basic knowledge about gain, you realize that you are just clipping a signal (and holding it at a DC level). 

[Toney]

Having just been driven nuts by a difficult case of 3pdt "thump", I can tell you that the millennium will save you from this on many, but not all occasions.
Its the first port of call when I am experiencing LED ker-thump.

[frank_p]

You can use 3pdt and MB to use the the 3p for stereo and bypass !

[DiscoVlad]

Actually, say you want to do some cool LED tricks. Then you use Mr. Mill in each LED circuit, and you can control multiples from that one footswitch, and get really crazy using bi-color LED's and such. Basically what I'm saying is that it's uses are only limited by your imagination. Yes, very useful circuit, indeed!

The C version using the 4049 inverting buffer is especially good for this.

[Perrow]

There might be times when you're not able to fit a 3pdt switch, but can stuff a millennium in there.

[midwayfair]

Thanks for all the replies, guys. I'll start digging into MB to see what I can do and keep it in mind when I'm getting LED thumps.

[DDD]

Since 2PDT switch is 1,5 times more reliable than the 3PDT one, Millenium circuit is preferable 

[joegagan]

i am no statistics expert, but to me the probabilities are exactly even, as i think you have to consider each set of poles as its own statistical equation.

[Perrow]

i am no statistics expert, but to me the probabilities are exactly even, as i think you have to consider each set of poles as its own statistical equation.

With three semesters of statistics, I'd say that the probability that one of three independent outcomes will be true is higher than for two independent outcomes. The question to ask is if the failure of each pole in a switch is independent from the failure of the other poles? Are all kinds of failure independent or only some?

[joegagan]

get a 4pdt, wire it 100% redundant, and use a mill bypass. problem solved?

[joegagan]

With three semesters of statistics, I'd say that the probability that one of three independent outcomes will be true is higher than for two independent outcomes. The question to ask is if the failure of each pole in a switch is independent from the failure of the other poles? Are all kinds of failure independent or only some?

in the case of traditional stompbox TBP wiring, two sets of poles MUST work for the system to work.
again, common sense tells me that those two poles have the same probability of failure in a 3pdt as they do in a dpdt, all other things being equal.
all things are not equal, so this brings us back to a real world analysis of the actual switch construction and durability testing.
( this is a mini-debate of dpdt vs 3pdt, not the original Q.)

[wavley]

get a 4pdt, wire it 100% redundant, and use a mill bypass. problem solved?

Sometimes I feel like doing this when I build something for a friend that I know is going to abuse it

[joegagan]

better yet, get two dpdts from different ( known reliable manufacturers), wire them 100% redundant with millenium bypass, with some sort of mechanical means to switch them simultaneously. make sure your mechanicals are damn good.

[Perrow]

in the case of traditional stompbox TBP wiring, two sets of poles MUST work for the system to work.

*Facepalm*

Right you are.

[boogietone]

Basically, the MB is just the . My go to is th MB 2.

[electrosonic]

As far as reliability goes

the Cliff 3PDT data sheet states the life of the switch is 20 000 operations,

the Alpha DPDT sold by small bear is rated  for 10 000 life cycles

the Carling SPST which you might use for switching a relay is rated for 100 000 cycles (mechanical life) and 25 000 cycles (electrical life) 

Datasheets here...

Cliff 3PDT http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30050282/Cliff%203PDT.pdf (originally supplied by Jack Deville)

Alpha DPDT http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30050282/alpha%20dpdt.pdf

Carling SPST http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30050282/Carling%20SPST.pdf

Andrew.

[Earthscum]

I waste 10000 clicks waiting for my guitarist to finish tuning and another 5000 if I leave it anywhere near my feet when I am doing nothing productive at home.